The human spirit to me is one of the most enigmatic and powerful sources of energy we’ve been blessed with! It allows us to soar and do things that we never knew we had inside us, or even capable of! But every now and then even that energy needs to rest and recharge (with the only exception being the pink bunny!) Fact is we all tend to get so caught up and wired into our daily lives that sometimes we forget to exhale. Being in the thick of things day in and day out its easy to lose perspective on what we think we are chasing! It’s time to slow down. The age old 17^th century proverb by the British historian James Howell holds water even today – All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!

What better time than the start of the year to reset your body clock and inner rhythm. Do yourself a favor, every now and then take time to detach and unplug yourself from the circuit, from the mundane and shake up that rhythm a bit. There have been positive results showing that just one dose of vacation can release a plethora of side effects. And these are the kinds of side-effects you wouldn’t mind enduring! Slowing your pace, breathing the air deeper, noticing new things, better still seeing the same old things in a new light, finding the humor in everyday life, feeling lighter (cannot guarantee the lbs though!), sounder sleep, fewer worries (atleast momentarily!) and just an overall sense of wellbeing! The list goes on..

Ideally take off physically if you can, a getaway from your typical surroundings. If that’s not feasible take a mental vacation as Dr. Jain suggests and escape from your addictive e-mails, voice mails, text messages, tweets, and wall posts for a few days. For the sublime, a spiritual vacation might be the right fix! A spiritual retreat spending the time in silence, prayer, and meditation. Bottom-line, unplug from the mundane and go get inspired!

A recent trip with my husband on a Southern Caribbean cruise did just the thing for us. I get it now when they say you can find inspiration in the smaller, subtler, finer, and everyday things around you. For me it came from the island locals I interacted with during the travel, the fresh balmy air I got to breathe everyday, island colors and flavors I got to taste, and simply lazing in the pristine beaches under the blue sunny skies with breezing palm trees. It truly has a psychological as well as a physiological effect on you when you allow your senses to feel revitalized and feel the energy gush back in!

I wish you all an energized and rejuvenated start in 2011 and may you find that inner spark and strength to proudly face yet another year with renewed confidence and strength! Personally, I feel inspired to lead this year living by the motto I saw at St. Kitts – Explore . Feel . Love . Remember!

I hope this year presents us all with the opportunity to explore ourselves deeper, feel the energy that shines within us, an open heart to receive and give back the love we all deserve, and the memory of a lifetime that we can all cherish and remember with our dear ones! Here’s to a fabulous year ahead!

Sharing a glimpse of what inspired us along the way.